In March/April 2007, pet food was recalled in some non-European countries due to a contamination of vegetable protein concentrates (rice, wheat and maize protein) imported from China and used in pet food production. Alleged malpractice of certain Chinese suppliers who added melamine to vegetable protein concentrates used in pet food caused suspected toxic effects for pets.
Whilst regretting such an exceptional incident, the European Pet Food Industry would like to reassure pet owners and authorities that this safety alert concerns exclusively pet food products in some non-European countries using such vegetable protein from China. The pet food products involved were not put on the European markets. The responsible local authorities and the companies concerned have put all necessary safeguard measures in place.1
FEDIAF has called upon all pet food producers to conduct a risk assessment of all their direct and indirect suppliers of vegetable protein concentrates from non-European countries and to take immediate and appropriate action as part of their risk management system:
--> To analyse all their imports of vegetable protein concentrates from non-European countries for melamine contamination.
--> To use such raw materials only after the analytical confirmation of its safety ("positive release").
--> In case of any doubts as to the reliability of the suppliers, to buy from alternative and reliable sources.
Reassurance is also given as to the safety and quality of vegetable protein concentrates in general: It is produced by removing a large part of the carbohydrate, oil and fibre fraction to obtain 80% to 90% of the proteins contained in cereals like rice, maize, wheat or soya. Vegetable protein concentrates, such as wheat gluten, have been used for centuries in human food products - mainly for bread, vegetarian cuisine or in Asian food - as a valuable, highly digestible protein and for its positive effects on the food's texture quality. Like for human food, vegetable protein concentrates are used in pet food for these properties and to provide safe, nutritious and palatable products to pets.
1US Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html
Menu Foods: http://www.menufoods.com/recall/index.html
Backed up by the opinion of a number of authorities in this field, including:
- Dr M. DIEZ, DMV, Diplomat at the European College for Comparative Veterinary Nutrition / Pet Food Unit
- Pr C. Clercx, DMV, Diplomat at the European College for Internal Medicine in Small Animals / Pet Animal Internal Medicine Department
- Dr D. Peeters, DMV, Diplomat at the European College for Internal Medicine in Small Animals / Pet Animal Internal Medicine Department
- Pr M. Balligand, DMV, Diplomat at the European College for Veterinary Surgery / Pet Animal Surgery Department
as well as by recent scientific research carried out in cooperation with university research centres worldwide, including:
- Kraft geriatrics European J Medical research 1998,3,31,41
Based on these expert opinions, we can objectively conclude as follows:
- A study which is carried out on dead dogs at a certain point in time does not allow one to draw any conclusions such as those stated by veterinarian Dr Gérard Lippert today. In order to be fully reliable, research on life expectancy of dogs should indeed be carried out in two stages, with a 10 to 15 year interval and among a population with statistic relevance.
- Dr Gérard Lippert's study does not mention the breed of dog involved in his observations. Yet, it has been scientifically proven that the life expectancy of dogs naturally varies according to size and breed. Indeed, life expectancy is longer for small breeds than it is for larger dogs.
On the other hand, today's learning with respect to canine psychology, anatomy and nutritional needs, leads to the following observations and findings:
- Since the dietary pattern of a dog (semi-carnivore) differs from our (omnivore) eating pattern, it is unrealistic to assume that a dog would need to be fed in the same way as humans.
- The physiological differences of a dog's digestive tube reveal the poor diversity of its intestinal flora, thus one can but assume that the variations in feeding which are frequently imposed on dogs, may cause severe intestinal disorders, including diarrhoea.
- In order to meet the dogs' nutritional needs, it is of prime importance to carry out exact calculations on the intake of nutrients (protein, fat, carbohydrate, vitamins and minerals), in order to provide a complete and balanced diet, which takes into consideration the dog's age (growth, maintenance, senior…), size, daily activity (working dog, companion dog, etc…) and the dog's physiological stage (gestation, lactation...).
We have to note that industrial pet food which is offered for sale today meets in a strict and precise manner the requirements of the dog's physiology.
Since the manufacturing conditions are subject to stringent rules with respect to hygiene, quality of raw materials and traceability, pet food manufacturers are now in a strong position to claim their different products have the best organoleptic qualities.
Brussels, August 23rd 2006